By Fr Pat. Amobi Chukwuma
In normal parlance, an expectant mother gives birth to a single baby at a time. The pregnancy lasts for nine months. If it lasts more than nine months, the baby becomes Akpunwa (an extraordinary strong baby). On the other hand, if the pregnancy lasts less than nine months, the baby becomes Nronwa (a soft baby).
When an expectant mother gives birth to two babies at a time, they are known as twins. They are called triplets if they are three; quadruplets if they are four, etc. Recently, an expectant woman gave birth to nine babies at a time, one after another. These are called nonuplets.
Some years ago, a certain poor gateman was informed that his expectant wife just put to bed. Happily he rushed to the maternity hospital to welcome the baby and to thank God for safe delivery. Immediately he arrived there, the nurse on duty gave him an extraordinary handshake and emotionally addressed him, “Mighty man of the year, the manufacturer of septuplets, welcome! Come and see the products of your akpucative labour.” ‘Akpucative’ is a combined Igbo and English terminology, which means ‘strenuous’.
The man was confused and asked, “What do you mean? I am a poor gateman with no title.” The nurse took him by the hand and led him to the maternity ward where his wife and his assorted products were. Pointing at them, the nurse exclaimed, “Rejoice powerful man! Your wife gave birth to these seven non-bouncing babies; six girls and a boy.
Your house is now a booming factory.” When the man saw the seven babies he shouted, “What? My wife, are you a fowl? I sowed one baby in your womb but you produced seven. Didn’t you know that we have five children already? The total number now is one dozen. Who will cater for them? I am only a poor gateman while you are a sachet water vendor. Putting his two hands over this head, he shouted, “Ewu ataa m igu n’isi-oo!!!” (I am in trouble!!!). He excused himself to go and urinate.
He left and never came back till today. By God’s grace, the state government and philanthropists took care of the mother and the seven babies. They all grew up and became successful in life. Please anyone who knows the where-about of the father on the run should advise him to come back, if he is still alive. But if he has committed suicide, let his spirit vanish from the face of the earth.
As earlier discussed, two babies born by the same mother, at the same time, are called twins. If they look exactly alike, they care referred to as identical twins. Hardly can anyone, except the parents and siblings, differentiate them in facial and bodily appearances. Before the arrival of the early Missionaries in Nigeria, it was an abomination to give birth to twins or more babies.
They were killed and cast into evil forests. Their mother underwent strenuous cleansing rites before she was readmitted into the society. When the Missionaries came, they condemned the evil practice. Led by Mary Mitchell Slessor, a Scottish Presbyterian, the killing of twins was abolished. If you are a twin today, kindly thank God and the Missionaries for rescuing your life.
If you have not done special church thanksgiving, do so immediately. The Church is really a liberator. No wonder a baby is named ‘Ukamaka’ (The Church is good). Have you heard of anyone named ‘Arusiamaka’ (Idol is good)? Indeed, Idolatry is abominable before God. It is a pity that many of our baptized youths today have turned to the worship of idols. We earnestly pray for their reconversion and assimilation into Christianity once again.
Twin babies are mostly given identical or complementary names especially in Igboland. I want to propose some of the complementary names for twins and to discuss their meanings and implications.
Twin babies can be named Anayo and Anaenye respectively. Most often we hear of Anayo, which means Asking (from God). It is pertinent to say that he or she who asks should also be willing to give to God and to others in need. The Holy Scripture says, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35).
Therefore, a set of twins should be named Anayo (Asking) and Anaenye (Giving). Both male and female can bear the two complementary names. Most often we offer prayers of supplication while we lack in generosity. Life is give and take.
Often we hear of someone, especially ladies, bearing the name Obiageli (one who comes to enjoy). Who provides what to enjoy? It is the parents and others. Saint Paul tells us: “If you do not work, do not eat” (2 Thess. 3:10). A popular saying goes, “There is no food for a lazy man.”
Hence, I propose a complementary name which is Obiagalu (one who comes to work). It is therefore befitting to call a set of twins Obiagalu and Obiageli. The two are balanced and should be judiciously used on the naming day of twin babies. If they live good lives while on earth, later they will be canonized in heaven as Saint Obiagalu and Saint Obiageli.
In another instance, a child is called Chinenye at birth. It means Godgives. Yes, God is a generous Giver. In the Book of Genesis chapter 1 verse 26 God says, “Let us make man in our own image and likeness.” Male and female He created them. Thus, we should emulate God by being generous, especially to the needy.
Charity, they say, covers a multitude of sins. For this reason, the complementary name to Chinenye is Mmadunenye (Man or woman gives). The other alternatives are Chinyere (Godgave) and Mmadunyere (Mangave). Another is Ogochukwu (Chairty of God) and Ogommadu (Charity of man).
In this period of economic hardship and hunger in Nigeria, we ought to be our brothers’ keepers by sharing our resources, especially foodstuffs and money with the less privileged. Sharing makes us to have more. Stinginess is a bad attribute. What we do for someone alive is better than what we offer at death. Therefore, let us pay condolence visits to the living in need before they die.
The seven Corporal Works of Mercy are: To feed the hungry, to give drink to the thirsty, to clothe the naked, to visit the sick, to visit the imprisoned, to shelter the homeless and to bury the dead. Do you observe that burial work of mercy comes last? We shall be asked of the compliance or non-compliance to the seven Corporal Works of Mercy at the judgment seat of God on the last Day.
Kindly read the Gospel of Matthew Chapter 25, from verse 31 to 46. Keeping the Commandments of God is not sufficient for salvation. We must practice also the Corporal Works of Mercy. The combination of the two merits us eternal life. In the Gospel of Luke chapter 18: 18 we read that a certain man came to Jesus Christ and asked, “Master, what shall I do to inherit the kingdom of God?” Reading further from verse 19 to 30, Jesus asked him to keep the Commandments of God.
The curious man stated that he had been keeping those divine dictates. Jesus praised him so much and told him that he still lacked one thing which is to go and sell all he had and give the proceeds to the poor. At this, the curious man felt bad. Then, he angrily walked away.
In turn, Jesus said that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. It would be easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. The rich man here represents all those who are stingy and lack generosity. Are you one of them? A stitch in time saves nine.
